Cost reduction of solar cells while maintaining high solar energy conversion efficiencies is one of the main research goals in photovoltaic solar energy. The aim of this work is centered on the development of a fabrication process of industrial silicon solar cells with a back surface field region obtained by Al deposited by screen-printing and diffused into silicon wafer in a belt furnace. Ag and Ag-Al pastes were fired to establish the metallic contacts simultaneously to the Al diffusion. The best cell was processed at a temperature of 860°C and belt speed of 150 cm/min, achieving an efficiency of 12.8%. The BSF region was not as effective as that obtained from Al deposited at high vacuum and diffused in standard tube furnaces or belt furnaces.
Solar energy; solar cells; aluminum back surface field; screen printing paste; belt furnace
